Canine Teeth Cleaning Tips

Accumulation of plaque results in periodontal disease. Plaque is composed of bacteria, saliva proteins and debris and it sits between the gums and teeth. Bacteria from the periodontal infection can affect other vital organs in your pet's body. Regular canine teeth cleaning routine is the best way to ensure good dental health. The fist step in canine teeth cleaning is selecting an appropriate time that is quiet and convenient, when you and your dog are relaxed.

From there, get your dog used to the idea of teeth brushing. You can do this by massaging the dog's lips with your finger in a circular motion for a period of 30-60 seconds one or twice a day for a few weeks. From there you can move to the gums and teeth. When you dog starts to get comfortable with being touched this way, you can place a dab of dog toothpaste or a paste made out of water and baking soda on its lips to make the dog to get used to the taste. Having done that, you can then introduce a toothbrush that is appropriate for your dog's size. For large dogs, you can use human toothbrushes. Place a little toothpaste on the brush and in slow circular motions brush 1 or 2 teeth and the nearby gum line. By doing this you will be getting the dog accustomed to the canine teeth cleaning procedure.

At this juncture you can begin to gradually increase the number of dog teeth brushed. You should place the toothbrush or gauze wrapped finger at a 45 degree angle to the teeth and clean in small circular motions. It is very important to eventually brush the rear teeth where tartar and plaque might have accumulated. You should concentrate more in the side of the tooth that touches the cheek as it is the one that usually has most tartar. If your dog resists having the inner surfaces of the teeth cleaned, do not pressure it because only a little tartar builds up there. When you dog starts to protest you should stop the canine teeth cleaning procedure. After every session you should lavishly praise your dog to encourage the dog to enjoy the procedure. Once the dog becomes accustomed to the activity, you can brush its teeth 2-3 times a week.

If tooth brushing fails to work in your situation, you can give the dog anything that rubs on the sides of the teeth to chew on. Chew toys are good at satisfying your dog's desire to munch while making its teeth strong. These toys not only keep the teeth clean by scraping off soft tartar, but also massaging its gum. The best chew toys are those made firm toxin free rawhide, rubber and nylon. To keep up good dental health and to ease canine teeth cleaning, feed your dog on specially formulated dry food that does not cause too much tartar build up, and give the dog treats that are specially made to keep canine teeth healthy. This information seeks to educate you on the canine teeth cleaning procedure and maintaining overall good dental health.

We offer more details about cleaning canine teeth on our website at CactusCanyon. Learn about the alternatives for maintaining canine dental health.